Motor vehicle



Feb. 1, 1938. c. R. PAToN MOTOR VEHICLE Filed Nov. 21, 1934 2sheets-sheet 2 Patented Febiyl, 1938 UNITED'STATES PATENT oFFylc-E MOTORVEHICLE Clyde R. Paton, Birmingham, Mich., assignor to Packard Motor CarCompany, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application November21, 1934, Serial No. 754,147

12 Claims. (Cl. 18o- 73) This invention relates to motor vehicles and Ywill be apparent from the following description, is more particularlyconcerned with motor vetaken in connection with the accompanyingdrawhicle wheel suspension systems. It is the prinings, in which cipalobject of the invention to provide a wheel ,Figure l is a view in planof a portion of a suspension system applicable to the driving roadvehicle chassis illustrating one embodiment of wheels of the vehiclewhich will permit the maxithe invention;

mum freedom of movement of the road wheels Figure 2 is a sectional viewtaken substanduring operation of the vehicle and which will tially onthe line 2-2 of Figure l; reduce to a minimum the development of noiseFigure 3 is a sectional view taken substanlu and the transmission to thevehicle frame of tially o-n the line 3-3 of Figure 2; 10

vibrational disturbances and road shock. Figures 4, 5, and 6 aresectional views illus- The invention is directed particularly to thetrating details and taken substantially on the so-called independenttype of wheel suspension lines 4--4,5-5, and 6--6 respectively of Figurel;

in which the rising and falling movements of op- Figure 7 is a sectionalview taken on the line 23 positely disposed road wheels areindependently l-l of Figure l; 15 executed, as distinguished from themore con- Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line ventional rigidaxle type of wheel suspension. 8--8 of Figure 7; and The inventioncontemplates the provision of a Figure 9 is a section on the line .9 9of novel arrangement for suspending the usual Figure 2.

. ,0 differential gear housing from the vehicle frame In order tofacilitate an understanding of the so as to permit the housing topartake of oscilinvention, reference is made herein to the emlatorymovement independently of the frame and bodiment of the invention shownin the accomindependently of the road wheels. panying drawings andspecific language is em- Itis a further feature of the invention thatthe ployed to describe the same. It will nevertheless 5 driving torqueapplied to the differential housing be understood 'that no restrictionof the scope of 25 is wholly absorbed by the housing suspension theinvention is thereby intended, various modimeans, the arrangement beingsuch that the cations and alterations of the illustrated strucyieldingmeans employed to support the road ture being COIlSemDlate wheels forrising and falling movement with re- For convenience in describing theinvention,

m spect to the frame is substantially unaffected by the driving roadwheels of the vehicle willbe 30 this driving torque. assumed to be therear road Wheels; it will be ap- It is a more specific object of theinvention to preciated, however, that the invention is equally providean independent suspension for the drivapplicable to a front wheel driveand that some ing road wheels of the vehicle including a dilerfeaturesof the suspension may be applied to veential gear housing independentlysupported on hicle road wheels which are not employed for the vehicleframe by one or more leaf spring asdriving purposes. semblies, thelatter being preferably connected In Figures l to 3 of tlrev drawingsthe rear drivto the frame through rubber, the movement of ing wheels areindicated at I0, each of these the leaf spring assemblies being dampedto an Wheels being connected in conventional manner 40 extent sufficientto ensure complete absorption with an axle I2 which extends through anaxle 40 of shock and vibration, and the road wheels behousing I3. Eachaxle is iournalled Within the ing supported on separate longitudinallyextendassociated axle housing, the bearing adjacent ing ieaf springassemblies which are likewise the inner end of the axle being indicatedat I4 in connected to the vehicle frame through rubber. Figures 7 and 8,and the bearing adjacent the It is a further object of the invention toprovide outer end being indicated in Figure 5 at l5. At 45 a wheelsuspension system for the driving road its outer end each axle housingis connected with wheels of the vehicle in which each driving axle thewheel assembly in the conventional manner, extends from the road wheelassembly to a point carrying for instance the usual brake backingclosely adjacent the usual differential gear housplate and othernon-rotating elements of the ing and is connected to the gearing withinthe wheel assembly. In other words, the construc- 50 latter by means ofa single universal joint of such tion thus far described is whollyconventional nature as to permit both angular and axial disexcept thatseparate axles and axle housings are placement of the axle in a verticaltransverse associated with each road wheel, terminating plane. short ofthe differential gear housing I6 which is Further objects and featuresof the invention disposed generally centrally of the vehicle frame. 55

` ing the frame.

Each axle housing Il is yieldingly supported on the vehicle frame,preferably by means of alongitudinally extending leaf spring assemblyI2. 'I'he leaf spring assembly may be supported at either end byshackles Il secured to brackets 2l carried by the side rail 2| of thevehicle frame, the spring assembly being thus permitted a limitedmovement fore and aft of .the vehicle frame. The connection between eachaxle housing Il and the associated spring assembly' I6 may comprise theusual spring attaching bolts 23, a lower plate 24, and an upper plate25, the latter being provided with upstanding lugs 2 which Bre perturedto receive a bolt 21 passing through a corresponding aperture in a boss2l formed on the lower side of the axle housing. It will be observedthat in this manner the axle housing is pivotally connected to ,the,spring assembly on an axis extending generally longitudinally of thevehicle, free rocking of the axle housing and axle in a verticaltransverse plane being permitted without any twisting of the springassembly. n

Each axle housing is further provided with a boss 30 at the forward sidethereof which is apertured to receive a bolt 3l, the latter extendingthrough corresponding apertures in a yokeshaped portion 32 constitutingthe rearward end of a torque arm 34, pivotal connection on a generallyvertical axis between the torque arm I4 and the axle housing I5 beingthus effected. Each torque arm 34 extends forwardly and inwardly of thevehicle frame and is supported on a transverse frame member 36 by meansof a. bracket indicated generally at 26 and compriscomplementarygenerally hemispherical socket portions 39 and 46 which are securedtogether. The forward end of each torque arm 34 is formed to provide agenerally spherical head portion 42, the latter being received in thebracket 32. As shown more particularly in Figure 6 of the drawings, asheath of rubber or similar resilient vibration absorbing material 42 isinterposed between and-preferably vulcanized or otherwise surface bondedtothe socket portions 36and 40 of the bracket 3|,and the head 42 of thetorque arm.

It will be observed that the movement of which the outer end of eachaxle housing I3 partakes is prescribed by the positions assumed by theassociated leaf spring assembly I8 and the rearward end of theassociated torque arm 34 during rising and falling movement of the roadwheel, the necessary change in the angular position of the torque arm 34being permitted by distortion of the rubber sheath 43 which serves atthe same time to damp vibration and reduce the transmission of roadshockand other disturbances to As the road wheel rises and falls, theassociated leaf spring assembly will partake of slight fore and aftmovement .which is permitted by the spring shackles I9-as hereinbev forepointed out. The axle housing I3 will likewise rock 'about its point ofpivotal connection with the, associated leaf spring assembly on the axisof the bolt 21.

'I'he differential housing I6 is supported yieldingly on the frame andfor this purpose may be carried by one or more longitudinally extendingleaf spring assemblies 45. Preferablygonevsuch spring assembly isdisposed at each side of the differential housing .and is secured to alaterally and upwardly extending boss 46 formed at tne side of thehousing by means of spring attaching bolts 4I and plate 4l. At one end,for instance at the forward end, each leaf spring assembly 45 ispivotally secured to a bracket 49 which is carried by a cross -framemember 50. At the opposite end, each leaf spring assembly 45 isconnected through a'shackle 52 to a bracket 53 secured to a cross framemember 54. By means of this construction the spring assemblies 45 arepermitted to flex, and the differential housing I6 may thus partake ofrising Vand falling oscillatory movement in both transverse andlongitudinal planes with respect to the vehicle frame. Each springassembly 45 is provided with onelor more clips 44 which clamp the leavesof the assembly together to appreciably increase the friction exertedtherebetween when the spring is flexed.

It willA be understood that the differential gear housing encloses theusual gearing, this gearing being omitted from the drawings to simplifythe illustration, only the stub shafts 66 projecting from either side ofthe housing and driven'by the gearing in the conventional manner beingshown. interposed between the shafts 56 and the axles I2 are universaljoints. these jointsbeing preferably constructed as .shown in Figures 7and 8 to provide for relative angular as well as slight bodilydisplacement of the axles I2 and the shafts 56 in a transverse generallyvertical plane. Thus each universal joint may comprise outwardlydirected arms 53 formed integrally with or secured to the associatedshaft 56, and y is interposed between the arms 56 and the armsk 60, theplates 6I and 62 being formed at intervals of to provide generallycup-shaped portions 64 receiving therein blocks 65 of rubber or otherdeformable material of a similar nature.

f A bushing 68 extends through each of the rubber blocks and ispreferably provided with a circumferential rib portion 69 lying withinthe block,

lthe rubber blocks being vulcanized or otherwise surface bonded withinthe cup-shaped receptacles 64 and to the bushing 66. Each bushing 68 isin turn secured to one of the arms 58 or 60 by means of a bolt 'IIIpassed through the bush- .ing and the associated arm.

Universal joints of this character are conventional and the detailsthereof form no part of the present invention except as employed incombination with other elements of the suspension. It -will beappreciated, however, that these joints afford the necessary axialrelative movement between each axle I2 and the associated shaft 56, theuse of an extensible axle formed of telescoping parts being therebyeliminated, together with the noise and roughness of action inherent inthe employment of sectional axles.

Each of the leaf springs 45 and I 8 are connected to the vehicle frame'through rubber to prevent the transmission of noise and vibrationaldisturbances to the frame. For convenience, only one such connection hasbeen illustrated, this being shown in Figure 9. Here the links l2 whichconstitute the shackle connection of the spring I3 to the frame arepivoted to the bracket 20 by means of a bolt I3 and a bushing I4 ispivoted to the links at the opposite ends thereof by means of a bolt 15.A bushing 16 is secured within the spring eye 'I9 at the e'nd of thespring assembly and a sheath oi rubber 60 is interposed between andvulcanized to the bushings 14 and 18. AIt will of course be appreciatedthat the rubber connection may -be employed at the upper end rather thanthe lower end of the shackle and it will also be understood that wherethe shackle is omitted, and a simple pivoted connection between thespring and frame is employed, as at one end of the leaf springassemblies 45, the links 'l2 will bepmitted without otherwise changingthe construction.

With this arrangement the differential housing I6 is supported solely bythe leaf spring assemblies 45, there being no connection between thedifferential housing and the axle housings I3 other than that affordedby the universal joint connections between the shafts 56 and therespective axles l2. Since the interleaf friction of the springs 45 ismaterially increased by the clips M, the action of these springsassisted by the rubber connection of the springs to the frame serves toeffectively damp all disturbances.

A wheel suspension of this character is particularly desirable where adriving system such as the well-known Hotchkiss drive is employed inwhich the motor and the gearing within the differential housing areconnected by a relatively long drive shaft having universal joints ateither end. As the rear wheels rise and fall with respect to the frame,these universal joints are flexed with the result that a slight rotativemovement is applied to the drive shaft and undesirable oscillation isset up which, in the present instance, can be absorbed by slight rockingmovement of the differential housing. Again, clutch chatter which is theresult of sudden application of torque on engagemcnt of the clutch isreadily absorbed by rocking of the differential housing and resultantdamping of this rocking movement by the leaf springs 45 which afford thesupport for the housing. Thus the arrangement provides a highly flexibledrive system which nevertheless prevents by effective damping thebuilding up of vibrational disturbances to undesirable proportions.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of drivingroad wheels disposed at opposite sides of said frame, and meansyieldingly supporting said road wheels for independent rising andfalling movement with respect to the frame, said means comprising adifferential gear housing disposed generally centrally of the frame andhaving gearing therein, at least one longitudinally extending leafspring assembly acting between said frame and said housing to yieldinglysupport the latter, driving axles carrying said road wheels, said axlesextending laterally of said differential housing and having universaljoint connections with the gearing therein, and longitudinally extendingleaf spring assemblies supporting said axles on said frame adjacent eachroad wheel.

2. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of drivingroad wheels disposed at opposite sides of said frame, and meansyieldingly supporting said road wheels for independent rising andfalling movement with respect to the frame, said means comprising adifferential gear housing disposed generally centrally of the frame andhaving gearing therein, at least one longitudinallyextending leaf springassembly acting between said frame and said housing to yieldinglysupport the latter, driving axles carrying said road wheels, said axlesextending laterally of said differential housing and having universaljoint connections with the gearing therein, longitudinally extendingleaf spring assemblies supporting said axles on said frame adjacent eachroad wheel, and torque arms, one connected with each axle adjacent theassociated road wheel and extending away from the axle and inwardly ofthe frame, each arm being pivotally connected to the frame for swingingmovement about an axis coinciding substantially with the axis of theuniversal joint connection about which the-associated axle swings whenthe road wheel rises and falls.

3.. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of drivingroad wheels disposed at opposite sides of said frame, and meansyieldingly supporting said road wheelsvfor independent rising andfalling movement with respect to the frame, said means comprisingadifferential gear' housing disposed generally centrally of fthe frameand having gearing therein, atleast one longitudinally extending leafspring assembly acting between said frame and said housing to yieldinglysupport the latter, driving axles carrying said road wheels, said axlesextending laterally of said differential housing and having universaljoint connections with the gearing therein, the members of each ofsaiduniversal joint connections partaking of relative movement axially ofthe associated axle during rising and falling movement of the wheel, andlongitudinally extending leaf spring assemblies supporting said axles onsaid frame adjacent each road Wheel.

4. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of drivingroad wheels disposed at opposite sides of said frame, and meansyieldingly supporting said road wheels for independent rising andfalling movement with respect to the frame, said means comprising adifferential gear housing disposed generally centrally of the frame andhaving gearing. therein, means supporting said housing on the frame,driving axles carrying said road wheels, said axles extending laterallyof said differential housing and having universal joint connections withthe gearing therein, and longitudinally extending leaf spring assembliessupporting said axles on said frame adjacent each road wheel, said axlespartaking of limited lateral bodily displacement under control of saidleaf spring assemblies during rising and falling movement of said roadwheels, said universal joint connections each including membersconnected for concurrent rotation and for relative angular and lateraldisplacement in a generally vertical plane transverse to the vehicleframe.

5. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of drivingroad wheels disposed at opposite sides of said frame, and meansyieldingly supporting said road wheels for independent rising andfalling movement with respect to the frame, said means comprising adifferential gear housing disposed generally centrally of the frame andhaving gearing therein, means supporting said housing on the frame,driving axles carrying said road wheels, said axles extending laterallyof said differential housing and having universal joint connections withthe gearing therein, and longitudinally extending leaf spring assembliessupporting said axles on said frame adjacent each road wheel, said axlespartaking of limited lateral bodily displacement under control of saidleaf spring assemblies during rising and falling movement of said roadwheels, said universal joint connections each including membersconnected by means including rubber for concurrent rotation and forrelative angular and lateral displacement in a generally vertical plane`transverse to the vehicle frame. v v

6. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of drivingroad wheels disposed 7. In a motor vehicle, the combinationwith avehicle frame, of a differential housing yieldingly supported on saidframe and having dif- .ferential gearing therein, axles extendinglaterally ofY said dierential housing, road wheels carried by saidaxles, each axle having a single universal Joint connection with thegearing in said housing, said connections aiiording the sole supportyfor said axles at the inner ends thereof, and means including torquearms yieldingly supporting said axles adjacent the outer ends thereof onthe frame for rising and falling movement in arcuate paths about saiduniversal joint connections.

8. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, oi adiil'erential housing yieldingly supported on said frame and havingdifferential gearing therein, axles extending laterally of saiddifferential housing, road wheels carried by said axles, each axlehaving a single universal Joint connection with the gearing in saidhousing, said connections affording the sole support for said axles atthe inner ends thereof, a nd means yieldingly supporting said axlesadjacent the outer ends thereof on the frame for rising and fallingmovement, said means comprising longitudinally extending leaf springassemblies carried by said frame and pivotallyconnected with therespective axles on axes directed generally longitudinally of the frame.

9. In4 a motor vehicle, lthe combination with a vehicle frame, of adinerential housing yieldingly supported on said frame and havingdifferential gearing therein, axles extending laterally of saiddiilerential housing, road wheels carried by said axles, each axlehaving a single universal Joint connection with the gearing in saidhousing, said connections affording the sole support for said axles atthe inner. ends thereof, means yieldingly supporting said axles adjacentthe outer ends thereof on the frame for rising and falling movement,said means comprising longitudinally extending leafspring assembliescarried by said frame and pivotally connected with the respective axleson axes directed generally longitudinally of the frame, each springassembly being shackled to said frame at each end.

thereof for bodily longitudinal displacement, and ytorque arms actingbetween said axles and said frame and pivoted to the latter on axescoinciding substantially with the axes of the associated universal Jointconnections.

10. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, -of adifferential gear housing having gearing therein, axles drivenv by said4gearing, means supporting and guiding the outer ends of said axles onsaid frame for rising and falling movement independently of said.difierential housing, and leaf spring means acting be- `tween said frameand said housing and affording the sole support for said housing on saidframe.

1l. In a motor vehicle, the combination with a vehicle frame, of adifferential gear housing having gearing therein, axles driven by saidgearing andsupported on said frame forl rising and falling movementindependently of said differential housing, and leaf spring means actingbetween said frame and said housing and aiIording the sole support forsaid housing on said frame, said leaf spring means comprising a pair oflongitudinally extending leaf spring assemblies connected with saidframe through rubber.

l?. In a motor vehicle, -the combination with a vehicle frame, ofdriving road wheels disposed at opposite sides of said frame, and meansyieldingly supporting said road wheels for independent rising andfalling movement with respect to the frame, said means comprising adifferential gear housing disposed generally centrally of the frame andhaving gearing therein, at least one longitudinally extending leafspring assembly acting between said frame and said housing to yieldinglysupport the latter, driving axles carrying said road wheels, said axlesextending laterally of said differential housing and havinguniversal'joint connections with the gearing therein, longitudinallyextending leaf spring assemblies supporting said axles on said frameadjacent each road wheel, torque arms, one connected with each axleadjacent the associated road wheel and extendlng away from the axle andinwardly of the frame, each arm being pivotally connected to the-- framefor swinging movement about an axis coinciding substantially with theaxis of the universal joint connection about which the associated axleswings when the road ywheel rises and falls, and vibration absorbingmeans including rubber interposed between said frame and said torquearms and between said frame and each of said leaf spring assemblies.

CLYDE R. PATON.

